Investment manager Downing has appointed Roger Lewis as head of ESG.

Lewis will be responsible for leading Downing’s ESG strategy and will report to James Weaver, Chief Operating Officer. He joins the firm from River and Mercantile where he was Group Head of ESG.

James Weaver, COO, comments: We are delighted to welcome Roger to the Downing team – I am sure that we will benefit greatly from his wealth of experience in ESG strategy, governance, integration to investment and engagement activities, and reporting across quoted and unquoted markets. Having worked and communicated with investors across a range of asset classes as well as a deep understanding of ESG issues, Roger will play a key part in developing exciting ESG opportunities for our investors. As a business we are committed to placing ESG factors at the heart of everything we do and he will play a key role driving that agenda across our funds, investment trusts and tax-efficient products within our principal business areas of renewable energy, infrastructure, property, and healthcare.”